Choi Jae-min (55, 30th Judicial Research and Training Institute), who was appointed as the inaugural chief of the Seoul Major Crime Investigation Agency, urged his staff to conduct strict investigations based on the law and principles, emphasizing that past mistakes must not be repeated.

Chief Choi made the remarks during his inauguration ceremony held this morning (the 7th) at the Renesquare Building in Jung-gu, Seoul.

'Amid a major transformation of the criminal justice system taking place for the first time in 78 years, we have taken our first step under a new name,' Choi said, adding, 'The path to get here was not smooth, and there are no small challenges to solve moving forward.'

Stating that he will 'devote all efforts to successfully establishing this organization,' Choi shared four requests with the staff.

First, he asked them to 'conduct fair investigations in accordance with the law and principles.'

'Watching the names and emblems of familiar agencies disappear, you must have had many thoughts,' Choi said. 'We witnessed firsthand what kind of consequences investigative agencies face when they lose the public's trust.'

'Based on these lessons, we must conduct strict investigations based on the law and principles, looking only at the people without being swayed by power or political interests,' he stressed.

Chief Choi emphasized that the way investigative powers are exercised must also change.

'We must not repeat past mistakes under different names, such as conducting expansive searches that secure materials unrelated to charges, endless investigations seeking out other charges, or prolonged investigations without clear reasons,' he said.

'In accordance with the principle of proportionality required by the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Act, the scope and intensity of investigations should be set appropriately, and investigations should be conducted swiftly after accurately reviewing the facts and scope,' he requested, adding, 'Please ensure that crime victims and socially vulnerable people are cared for, and that the rights of suspects are not neglected in the process.'

Chief Choi also called for specialized investigative capabilities.

'In-depth expertise is required to understand complex financial transactions and capital market structures, find evidence within vast amounts of data, and uncover the reality of crimes,' he said.

'Build teamwork and harmony with steel-like solidarity,' he said, adding, 'You must not draw lines based on past institutional affiliations or insist on your own ways.'

Finally, Choi asked members of the agency, which investigates corruption and economic crimes, to apply strict moral standards to themselves.

'A single person's misconduct or moral hazard can render colleagues' dedication in vain and shatter the trust of the entire organization,' he said. 'Please maintain integrity and dignity not only in the performance of your duties but also in your daily words and actions.'

'I am well aware that there are difficulties because all conditions are not yet in place,' Choi added. 'Please approach your work with a sense of pride and ownership as founding members who are laying the groundwork for a new organization.'

A former prosecutor, Chief Choi graduated from Muhak High School in Gyeongbuk and Sungkyunkwan University's College of Law.

He has previously directed frontline investigations as the 1st Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office and the 2nd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, and left the prosecution service upon finishing his tenure as the head of the Inspection Department at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in 2023.


(Photo: Yonhap News)